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Ethier only Opening Day starter in lineup

Ethier only Opening Day starter in lineup

SAN DIEGO -- There are more players from the Dodgers' Opening Day lineup recovering from Tuesday injections (Matt Kemp and Juan Uribe) than are in Wednesday's starting lineup (only Andre Ethier).

Kemp (left hamstring) and Uribe (left wrist) received platelet-rich plasma injections to speed recoveries from their respective injuries. Kemp has a slight left hamstring strain and is expected to begin hitting off a tee Thursday if he has no pain and might return after the minimum 15 days on the disabled list.

Trainer Sue Falsone said it's still the club's goal to have Kemp back to work on May 29. Manager Don Mattingly said Kemp is likely to play at least one Minor League rehab game before returning.

"Then you know he's 100 percent," Mattingly said.

Uribe's injury is more complicated. Falsone said Uribe will see a hand specialist over the weekend. She said surgery hasn't been ruled out, but would not say what a Tuesday MRI showed.

"I'm not giving you much -- call it a wrist sprain for now, stemming from when he slid in April," she said.

Uribe's wrist tends to improve with rest, only to flare up again with activity, indicating that even if surgery isn't the next course of action, he's likely to be sidelined a while.

Additional injuries to Juan Rivera and Jerry Hairston left Mattingly to pencil out a lineup that included only one player from Opening Day. Mattingly had five left-handed hitters against a left-handed starting pitcher (Tony Gwynn, Bobby Abreu, Andre Ethier, Adam Kennedy and Chris Capuano).

It wouldn't have qualified as a legal Spring Training lineup, which requires four starters or established Major Leaguers.

"It qualifies for next year in Spring Training," joked Mattingly. "We're in a situation like a lot of other teams where guys are down. We've just got to weather the storm. We're lucky, we've got it, but they're temporary. It seems worse because it came in bunches."

Matt Treanor, who apparently is the unofficial catcher for Capuano, was behind the plate for A.J. Ellis. Mark Ellis was rested after his three-hit game on Tuesday night.

"It's because we've had a couple funky series, a day game, bussing back and forth, and it just looks funny because nobody else is in the lineup," said Mattingly. "He's just getting a day. I don't want another guy [hurt], not that you can prevent it."